Honey, a natural sweetener, is popularly consumed and loved by all. It has emerged to be an ideal alternative to refined sugar and is incorporated in various homemade recipes. From adding a dash to your morning drink to baking, honey is used extensively. It comes with a lot of health benefits and is a part of every household. But the process of finding the right one is daunting. Do you often get confused regarding how to buy real honey?
The growth in the consumption of this natural sweetener has led numerous brands to produce and market them. As a result, brands are seen competing and bringing innovations in this wonder food. However, with so many different brands available in the market today, it sure gets tough on what to look for before buying honey.
There are several factors that we need to consider to ensure that we buy pure quality honey brands in India. These crucial things will ease the process when it comes to purchasing any honey brand. Every brand today offers a unique version of honey using different ingredients. So how can we find the right choice?
Here is everything you need to know about how to buy the best honey. It is a complete honey buying guide to help you buy the best honey quality depending on your needs. So let us quickly head over and begin to lay out all the details.
Table of Contents
Factors to Consider When Buying Honey
Honey is readily available today. It is not only available in plain form, but you will also come across different flavors in honey. Loaded with nutrients naturally, it is crucial that we get all the benefits of honey and do not sacrifice any. To save your time in finding the best quality, consider the below-mentioned factors when buying them. Do you often find yourself in a dilemma about what to look for before buying them? Do not worry.
1. Go For Raw Honey
The first thing to consider while buying honey is to choose one that is raw. Raw honey is honey that is free from tampering, heating, and processing. It represents honey the way bees made it. Heating or boiling raw honey results in a loss of nutrients. This means that honey that has gone through any kind of heat treatment will not be as nutritious as the raw variety.
Try buying unpasteurized honey to get all the health benefits. Always prefer opting for raw honey since it is free from preservatives and added sugar.
2. Choose The Unfiltered Variety
Honey is naturally packed with multiple benefits. However, if it undergoes pasteurization, it often gets filtered. The filtration process results in the elimination of the natural nutrients. Hence, look for unfiltered honey. Honey is usually filtered to extend its shelf life but lacks on the nutrition part.
3. Try Using Creamed Honey
Creamed honey made from 100% pure raw honey has a creamy and smooth consistency. It is derived through controlled crystallization of the honey process. Creamed honey has a thicker, richer texture that tastes great and has a pleasant aroma. It is an excellent form to store honey as it does not return to crystallization and maintains its consistency.
4. Ensure To Buy Glass Jar Honey
Make sure that you opt for honey that comes packed in a glass jar. If placed in plastic containers, it tends to have a shorter shelf life compared to those packed in glass jars. Honey, when placed in plastic containers, must be consumed within a year. Always prefer buying glass jar honey.
5. Read The Label
It is essential to read the label and take into account the ingredients used. Many times, companies mix High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), made using corn, or other additives with honey to increase the quantity. This is a form of adulteration and very difficult to judge from the naked eye.
Consumption of HFCS is linked to the development of several diseases. Read the labels carefully while picking up any brand of honey.
6. Source Honey Locally
Whenever you head over to buy honey, make sure to choose the local variants. Locally sourced honey is only strained and hence retains most of the beneficial nutrients and antioxidants.
To conclude: Factors like reading the label, opting for raw and unfiltered variants, and buying honey in a glass jar will go a long way in ensuring that you buy better quality honey. This was a list of factors to look for on how to buy the best honey. The above factors are easy to look for and will impact your final decision. In fact, if you consume honey regularly, these factors are a must to be considered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some interesting FAQs on honey buying guide
1. Which are the most important factors to look at while buying honey?
The most important factors to look for while buying honey are the ingredients. Moreover, honey does not need any preservatives and stays good as long as it is kept away from moisture.
2. How many types of honey are there in India?
There are eight types of honey found in India, which include – Eucalyptus honey, Lychee honey, Sunflower honey, Rapeseed honey, Karanja honey, Multifloral Himalayan honey, Acacia honey, and Forest honey.
3. Is local honey better than store bought?
Yes. Local honey is a better option to buy than store bought since it contains a wide variety of nutrients and antioxidants.
4. Should I go for forest honey?
Yes, you can. Forest honey has antibacterial properties and acts as a good healing agent. It is a mixture of herbs and medicinal plants that help to cure cough, cold, and also relieve sore throat.
Conclusion
We incorporate honey into our diet in different ways. Since it has emerged to be a part of our everyday lifestyle, investing in the best quality is essential. It is crucial to consider numerous factors when it comes to buying them. The above honey buying guide is sure to aid you in finding the best honey.
If you love consuming honey, you must know what to look for before buying them. It is essential to get all the nutrients that this natural sweetener carries. Several honey brands in India might make it confusing to choose the most authentic one.
Do you have more questions about buying honey? Mention them in the comments and we will do our best to answer them.